Ace India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is on the verge of reaching a significant milestone during the third Test against England in Rajkot on February 15. Ashwin is just one wicket away from joining the elite club of bowlers with 500 Test wickets. He needs four more wickets to surpass Anil Kumble's record of the most wickets by an Indian bowler at home.
Currently, Anil Kumble holds the top spot with 350 wickets in home Tests, followed closely by Ashwin with 346. Veteran spinner Harbhajan Singh ranks third on the list with 265 wickets at home. Despite facing a tough challenge, Ashwin has displayed decent form in the Test series so far, bagging nine wickets in four innings.
Let’s take a look at the other eight members of the illustrious 500-wicket club.
List of 8 bowlers who claimed more than 500 Test wickets
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) - 800
The Sri Lankan spin maestro Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record for being the fastest bowler to reach the milestone of 500 Test wickets, accomplishing it in just 87 innings, surpassing his longtime rival Shane Warne. Despite facing scrutiny over his bowling action multiple times during his 18-year career, Muralitharan persevered and went on to claim a record-breaking 800 wickets in 133 appearances, the highest in cricket history. He achieved this feat with 67 five-wicket hauls and 22 ten-wicket hauls.
Shane Warne (Australia) - 708
The Australian spin legend Shane Warne became the second bowler and the first spinner to achieve the milestone. Interestingly, it occurred during the same series in Sri Lanka where Muralitharan reached the 500-wicket mark, intensifying the rivalry between the two iconic bowlers. Warne concluded his illustrious career with 708 wickets in 145 matches, featuring 37 five-wicket hauls.
James Anderson (England) - 695
The perennial England fast bowler James Anderson has seen remarkable growth throughout his career and currently leads among fast bowlers in the list of wicket-takers. With 690 wickets already to his name in 183 appearances, Anderson has recorded 32 five-wicket hauls. As the five-match series approaches in India in late January, the 41-year-old appears poised to achieve the milestone of 700 wickets.
Anil Kumble (India) - 619
Anil Kumble concluded his Test career with 619 wickets in 132 Tests. He commenced his Test journey in 1990 and concluded it in 2008. Kumble achieved the remarkable milestone of 500 wickets in just 105 matches, making him the only Indian to do so.
Stuart Broad (England) - 604
England legend Stuart Broad began his Test career in 2007 and concluded with 604 wickets in 167 matches. He achieved the milestone of 500 wickets during England's Test series at home against West Indies in 2020.
Glenn McGrath (Australia) - 563
Glenn McGrath emerged as one of Australia's most successful fast bowlers, concluding his career with 563 wickets in 124 matches. McGrath reached this milestone during an Ashes Test series, marking his 110th career match and becoming the second-fastest bowler to achieve 500 wickets. Two years later, he announced his retirement during a home Ashes series in 2007.
Courtney Walsh (West Indies) - 519
The West Indies legend Courtney Walsh was the first bowler in Test history to reach this milestone. Continuing the dominance West Indies exhibited in the 70s and 80s, Walsh emerged as one of the most feared bowlers in the 90s, accumulating numerous records throughout his remarkable career. At the start of the new century, Walsh retired from the sport after claiming 519 wickets in 132 matches.
Nathan Lyon (Australia) - 517
Nathan Lyon from Australia has become the eighth bowler to achieve the milestone of 500 or more wickets in Test cricket. Since making his debut in 2011, Lyon has participated in 127 Tests, securing 517 wickets. This impressive tally includes 23 instances of taking five wickets in a single innings and four instances of claiming 10 wickets in a match.
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